History NinetiesAntiHero / AnimeAndManga

* This is a common criticism of [[Characters/JoJosBizarreAdventureJotaroKujo Jotaro Kujo]], the protagonist of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', although he ends up being more of a subversion. He's a [[TheStoic stoic]], aloof, badass [[JapaneseDelinquent delinquent]] who delivers one-liners and punches his enemies senseless, who is as [[WorldOfMuscleMen ripped as anyone]] at the time and wears a modified uniform with a giant, pointless chain hanging off of it. This is all in [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter stark contrast]] to his [[NiceGuy gentleman]] of a great-great-grandfather and his goofy GuileHero grandfather. However, his EstablishingCharacterMoment is him putting himself in jail to protect others from [[FightingSpirit a power he doesn't understand]] while he researches it, proving him as a BadassBookworm as well. He doesn't kill every villain he encounters, and explains that he ''is'' going to kill [[BigBad DIO]] specifically because of what an utter monster he is. Further, the edgier traits he ''does'' have are toned down in later parts of ''[=JoJo=]'', coming off as more of a BigBrotherMentor in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' and being given a DeconReconSwitch as a flawed but well-meaning father in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]''.

* This is a common criticism of [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro Kujo]], the protagonist of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', although he ends up being more of a subversion. He's a [[TheStoic stoic]], aloof, badass [[JapaneseDelinquent delinquent]] who delivers one-liners and punches his enemies senseless, who is as [[WorldOfMuscleMen ripped as anyone]] at the time and wears a modified uniform with a giant, pointless chain hanging off of it. This is all in [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter stark contrast]] to his [[NiceGuy gentleman]] of an ancestor and his goofy GuileHero grandfather. However, his EstablishingCharacterMoment is him putting himself in jail to protect others from a power he doesn't understand while he researches it as a result of him also being a BadassBookworm. He doesn't kill every villain he encounters, and explains that he ''is'' going to kill DIO specifically because of what an utter monster he is. Further, the edgier traits he ''does'' have are toned down in later parts of ''[=JoJo=]'', coming off as more of a BigBrotherMentor in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' and being given a DeconReconSwitch as a flawed but well-meaning father in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]''.

* This is a common criticism of [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro Kujo]], the protagonist of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', although he ends up being more of a subversion. He's a [[TheStoic stoic]], aloof, badass [[JapaneseDelinquent delinquent]] who delivers one-liners and punches his enemies senseless, who is as [[WorldOfMuscleMen ripped as anyone]] at the time and wears a modified uniform with a giant, pointless chain hanging off of it. This is all in [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter stark contrast]] to his [[TheHero gentleman]] of an ancestor and his GuileHero grandfather. However, his EstablishingCharacterMoment is him putting himself in jail to protect others from a power he doesn't understand while he researches it as a result of him also being a BadassBookworm. He doesn't kill every villain he encounters, and explains that he ''is'' going to kill DIO specifically because of what an utter monster he is. Further, the edgier traits he ''does'' have are toned down in later parts of ''[=JoJo=]'', coming off as more of a BigBrotherMentor in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' and being given a DeconReconSwitch as a flawed but well-meaning father in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]''.

** Bakugo is an over-the-top parody of the gritty anti-heroes that filled the pages of '90s superhero comics. While Midoriya aspires to become a hero to help people in need and to inspire hope and put smiles on people's faces, Bakugo is a total jerk to everyone (even his own family) and couldn't care less about making people's lives better, he just want to defeat villains and be hailed as the strongest of all. He's always in a bad mood and treats everyone like crap, even those who are nice to him. He slowly get better as the series goes on but he is clearly an over-the-top 90s anti-hero. He is also a parody of manga's typical "bad boys" who start as the best friend to the protagonist but also treat him like crap, examples being Vegeta and Sasuke.

* Revy from ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. Rough but cool name, nihilistic outlook, stripperiffic outfit, sizable... tracts of land and a gun in every hand. To top it all off, the story is set in the mid-nineties. However, she's a full-on VillainProtagonist rather than an antihero.

* ''Manga/KillerKiller'' has Takumi Hijirihara, a one-man murder machine that doesn't kill serial killers because it's right, but because [[DoWrongRight they don't do it right enough]]. He has the grim but simple codename, the one-liners, the morally unscrupulous background, and the [[NightmareFetishist love of killing]] all down. Quite notably, he's the only ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' protagonist to kill the culprits himself rather than a separate party like Monokuma do it for him.

** However, the characterization seen in ''Manga/CMonDigimon'' and ''Manga/DigimonVTamer01'', the earliest works in the series, didn't reflect this trope and the ''designs'' of Digimon as originally shown in "C-mon" didn't even reflect it, though [[ArtShift this was quickly corrected]] and [[MythologyGag referenced]] in "V-tamer".

** An especial mention should be should be made for Impmon from ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' while he is roaming across the Digital World as his Mega-digivolved form Beelzemon. As Beelzemon, he is a psychotic, shotgun wielding, demonic looking BadassBiker who seeks nothing less than to gain as much power as possible by way of [[TheSocialDarwinist destroying and absorbing the data of other Digimon he has killed]], even one of whom, [[spoiler: Leomon]], is a friend of his associates and then gloat about this act of murder to their faces. Though he is also a deconstruction in that Impmon [[DealWithTheDevil chose to become this]] after having been a [[FreudianExcuse powerless loner his whole life who badly wanted to fulfill his desire for self worth]] especially [[DespairEventHorizon after almost being killed in one fight]]. [[spoiler: He also gets to subvert this trope when after Gallantmon, who, by the logic Beelzemon was going by at the time, had a right to kill him for being beaten, spares him at the request of Jeri, whose partner, Leomon, he had killed prior and goes on a HeelRealization. Impmon returns to the Human world, meets his Tamers Ai and Mako, and eventually manages to gain "this thing called a conscience". Impmon [[LoveRedeems by way of the love of his tamers]] thus learns that [[RousseauWasRight all humans aren't the monstrous beings he first believed]]. He gets to even earn a RedemptionPromotion when he achieves Beelzemon Blast Mode. This subversion of the Nineties Anti-Hero trope even gets lampshaded in the dub when he states "Havin' someone to fight for feels pretty good; who knew?"]]

* This is a common criticism of [[Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro Kujo]], the protagonist of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', although he ends up being more of a subversion. He's a [[TheStoic stoic]], aloof, badass [[JapaneseDelinquent delinquent]] who delivers one-liners and punches his enemies senseless, who is as [[WorldOfMuscleMen ripped as anyone]] at the time and wears a modified uniform with a giant, pointless chain hanging off of it. This is all in [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter stark contrast]] to his [[TheHero gentleman]] of an ancestor and his GuileHero grandfather. However, his EstablishingCharacterMoment is him putting himself in jail to protect others from a power he doesn't understand while he researches it as a result of him also being a BadassBookworm. He doesn't kill every villain he encounters, and explains that he ''is'' going to kill DIO specifically because of what an utter monster he is. Further, the edgier traits he ''does'' have are toned down in later parts of ''[=JoJo=]'', coming off as more of a BigBrotherMentor in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' and being given a DeconReconSwitch as a flawed but well-meaning father in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]''.

** One particular incident that demonstrates this is in the Chapter Black arc. When he learns about Shinobu Sensui's plan to bring about an apocalypse by way of opening a portal to Demonworld, Hiei seems entertains to the idea of the Human world turned into Demon's paradise. Though it is only a ruse to bait Yusuke Urameshi into fighting him and test his strength, but his belief that HumansAreTheRealMonsters is one that he very much holds as true. They only reason he finally decides to help out Yusuke and friends prevent Sensui allowing any demon "tourists" to come as they please is based on two demons who expressed a desire to rape human women, and as Yukina was journeying throughout the Human world at the time and thus would potentially become a victim in a demon overran world, [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil is one thing he would not tolerate]].
* ''Manga/KillerKiller'' has Takumi Hijirihara, a one-man murder machine that doesn't kill serial killers because it's right, but because [[DoWrongRight they don't do it right enough]]. He has the grim but simple codename, the one-liners, the morally unscrupulous background, and the [[NightmareFetishist love of killing]] all down. Quite notably, he's the only ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' protagonist to kill the culprits himself rather than a separate party like Monokuma do it for him.

** Bakugo is an over-the-top parody of the gritty anti-heroes that filled the pages of '90s superhero comics. While Midoriya aspire to become a hero to help people in need and to inspire hope and put smiles on people's faces, Bakugo is a total jerk to everyone (even his own family) and couldn't care less about making people's lives better, he just want to defeat villains and be hailed as the strongest of all. He has always a bad temper and threat everyone like crap, even those who are nice to him. He slowly get better as the series goes on but he is clearly an over-the-top 90s anti-hero. He is also a parody of manga's typical "bad boys" who start as best friend to the protagonist but also treat him like crap, examples Vegeta and Sasuke.

* ''Anime/{{Texhnolyze}}'': Ichise is a coolheaded prize fighter who becomes one of these, granted a more subdued example along the lines of the aforementioned Killy, through the course of the show's twenty-two episodes. He becomes increasingly violent and psychotic after acquiring his [[ArtificialLimbs cybernetic limbs]], the eponymous Texhnolyze, both as he becomes more [[NewAbilityAddiction corrupted by the power he has]] to [[CatharsisFactor take out his pent up rage]] and also in response the [[CrapsackWorld increasingly dire circumstances]] as he and others face in-universe DarknessInducedAudienceApathy.

* Kiritsugu Emiya from ''LightNovel/FateZero'' qualifies this trope due to sacrificing minority over the majority and is shown bombing buildings that involve civilians and performs crueler methods to achieve whatever costs to gain the Holy Grail.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': Saito Hajime [[{{Expy}} is basically what]] ComicBook/ThePunisher (mentioned below under Comics) would be if he were a late Nineteenth century Japanese Sword wielding policeman. While he does not have the physical appearance of this archetype, his brutal nature and lack of regard for [[AssholeVictim those that he believed to be scum]] certainly fit it.

** The ''Manga/VigilanteMyHeroAcademiaIllegals'' spin-off has Knuckle Duster, a [[BadassNormal non-powered]] vigilante who looks like Marv from Sin City and prowls the alleyways beating up criminals.

** Endeavor is a man who became a hero solely for the prestige and attention. Otherwise, he has absolutely no regard for anyone else, is always moody and surly, uses a lot of force when in battle, and is emotionally consumed by rage. He is particularly furious that [[TheCape All Might]], an idealistic Silver Age-style hero, always seems to one-up him in the public eye. He has since become a father, [[AbusiveParents bringing his anti-hero morality into parenthood]]. His son, Shouto, absolutely ''hates'' him with every ounce of his being, and refuses to use the powers he inherited from him to spite him before it finally gets through to him that [[JerkassHasAPoint he's not going to get far as a Hero if he intentionally limits himself to half of his available moves and that his father is the best person to learn how to use them properly from]].

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': Saito Hajime [[{{Expy}} is basically what]] ThePunisher (mentioned below under Comics) would be if he were a late Nineteenth century Japanese Sword wielding policeman. While he does not have the physical appearance of this archetype, his brutal nature and lack of regard for [[AssholeVictim those that he believed to be scum]] certainly fit it.

* Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', who debuted with the publication of the manga in 1989, has almost all the characteristics of a nineties anti-hero. He has a [[DarkAgeOfSupernames gritty but simple name]], is [[AnArmAndALeg missing an arm]] [[EyeScream and an eye]], [[HeroicBuild has ridiculous muscles]] but [[CombatPragmatist relies on his lethal equipment instead of superpowers]], wears a black costume with lots of [[BadassBandolier bags and bandoliers]], is a badass with a DarkAndTroubledPast and [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]] to boot, and uses a ludicrous {{BFS}} as his main weapon. During the early Black Swordsman Arc he tells Puck that he doesn't care about anything except {{Revenge}}, considering any bystanders who get caught up in his vengeance as [[TheSocialDarwinist weaklings who didn't deserve to live]], and he [[ColdBloodedTorture brutally tortures]] any villains he defeats. Miura has even said that he based Guts' ImplacableMan vibe during the Black Swordsman Arc on 80s Hollywood action movie characters like [[Film/RoboCop1987 [=RoboCop=]]] and Film/TheTerminator--the same ones who had such an influence on the form the trope would take in TheNineties. In spite of all this Guts turns out to be something of an UnbuiltTrope example, or at least a more subtle one, as the state we first see him in is when he's at his very worst and using a JerkassFacade to hide from his pain. He goes through several shades of AntiHero through his CharacterDevelopment, but always has some redeeming qualities such as loyalty to his friends and sympathy for those who have suffered like he has.

%% * ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has Lelouch who wages a war against Britannia by sacrificing innocent and non innocent live for the sake of his blind and crippled sister. Another is Suzaku who later on becomes as his view upon the world from the beginning of the series gets worser.
%% * ''Manga/DeathNote'' has couple ranging from the likes of Light Yagami, Misa Amane, Teru Mikami, L, Near, and Mello. All serve as Knight Templar to do whatever it takes to bring justice.

** An especial mention should be should be made for Impmon from ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' while he is roaming across the Digital World as his Mega-digivolved form Beelzemon. As Beelzemon, he is a psychotic, shotgun wielding, demonic looking BadassBiker who seeks nothing less than to gain as much power as possible by way of [[TheSocialDarwinist destroying and absorbing the data of other Digimon he has killed]], even one of whom, [[spoiler: Leomon]], is a friend of his associates and then gloat about this act of murder to their faces. Though he is also a deconstruction in that Impmon [[DealWithTheDevil chose to become this]] after having been a [[FreudianExcuse powerless loner his whole life who badly wanted to fulfill his desire for self worth]] especially [[DespairEventHorizon after almost being killed in one fight]]. [[spoiler: He also gets to subvert this trope when after Gallantmon, who, by the logic Beelzemon was going by at the time, had a right to kill him for being beaten, spares him at the request of Jeri, whose partner, Leomon, he had killed prior and goes on a HeelRealization. Impmon returns to the Human world, meets his Tamers Ai and Mako, and eventually manages to gain "this thing called a conscious". Impmon [[LoveRedeems by way of the love of his tamers]] thus learns that [[RousseauWasRight all humans aren't the monstrous beings he first believed]]. He gets to even earn a RedemptionPromotion when he achieves Beelzemon Blast Mode. This subversion of the Nineties Anti-Hero trope even gets lampshaded in the dub when he states "Havin' someone to fight for feels pretty good; who knew?"]]

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has Lelouch who wages a war against Britannia by sacrificing innocent and non innocent live for the sake of his blind and crippled sister. Another is Suzaku who later on becomes as his view upon the world from the beginning of the series gets worser.
* ''Manga/DeathNote'' has couple ranging from the likes of Light Yagami, Misa Amane, Teru Mikami, L, Near, and Mello. All serve as Knight Templar to do whatever it takes to bring justice.

** Goku is also this, albeit to a much lesser degree than Vegeta. Goku isn't so much a good guy as he is a guy who does good things. This aspect of him was not adapted very well in the ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' anime, where every dub, including the original Japanese, basically projects heroic qualities onto him but ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' emphasizes Goku's {{pure|IsNotGood}}st motivation is to be stronger than he was before. Things like theft and murder do bother him, but if he is not around when it happens Goku can't be counted on to do anything about it. And ''then'' there are the primal instincts all saiyans such as Goku have that, among other things, [[BloodKnight push them to challenge strong opponents]]. To wit: he's ecstatic to be able to fight his doppelganger Black just because he seemed like a pretty strong guy, even though future Trunks has made it clear that Black is an OmnicidalManiac just like Frieza, whom Goku despised for this exact reason. What's the difference? Goku ''saw'' Frieza kill Vegeta and Krillin. "Black is a bad guy" just didn't register with him until [[KickTheDog it was hammered in.]]

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' has Kenpachi Zaraki, the captain of Gotei 13's Squad 11. With his wild, unkempt hair, scars, love of battle, being pretty much indestructible, a horrific past of growing up in poverty and violence and abilities that basically come down to "slash it til it stops moving", Zaraki is basically the Bleach equivalent of Guts mentioned above. His bloodthirsty nature is often played for laughs in the anime and some times in the manga.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' has Kenpachi Zaraki, the captain of Gotei 13's Squad 11. With his wild, unkempt, scars, love of battle, being pretty much indestructible, a horrific past of growing up in poverty and violence and abilities that basically revolve around getting stronger the longer the fight goes on, Kenpachi is basically the Bleach equivalent of Guts mentioned above. His bloodthirsty nature is often played for laughs in the anime and some times in the manga.

** Subverted and parodied with Gang Orca: He is a hero with a thuggish, brutal appearance and uses large amounts of angry force when in battle, but he is actually a nice guy and a good sport. Parodied in that Gang Orca is said to be 4th on the official list of "Top Heroes Who Look Like Villains," indicating that there are enough people like Gang Orca for there to be a sub-category of heroes.

** Stain is a HeroKiller who, ironically, is doing so because he believes so strongly in what a hero should be that very few live up to his standards besides All Might. Stain also not only has a name that would fit in with other Nineties Anti-Heroes, but a [[BloodMagic power activated by consuming someone else's blood]] (which complements his sadistic joy in seeing others in pain) and an arsenal of knives he keeps on his person via a lot of belts and bandoliers.

** Endeavor is a man who became a hero solely for the prestige and attention. Otherwise, he has absolutely no regard for anyone else, is always moody and surly, uses a lot of force when in battle, and is emotionally consumed by rage. He is particularly furious that [[TheCape All Might]], an idealistic Silver Age-style hero, always seems to one-up him in the public eye. He has since become a father -- [[AbusiveParents bringing his anti-hero morality into parenthood]]. His son, Shouto, absolutely ''hates'' Endeavor with every ounce of his being, and refuses to use the powers he inherited from Endeavor to spite him before it finally gets through to him that [[JerkassHasAPoint he's not going to get far as a Hero if he intentionally limits himself to half of his available moveset and that his father is the best person to learn how to use them properly from]].